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Native Plant Society of Texas

Water Hyssop

Bacopa monnieri

Other common name(s):

Herb of Grace, Herb-of-grace, Coastal Water-hyssop

Family:

Plantaginaceae (Plantain Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Chihuahuan Deserts, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Southern Texas Plains, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Low Mountains and Bajadas
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift
Coastal Sand Plain, Floodplains and Low Terraces4, Laguna Madre Barrier Island and Coastal Marshes, Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Mid-Coast Barrier Islands and Coastal Marshes, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Northern Nueces Alluvial Plains, Rio Grande Floodplain and Terraces, Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Southern Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous, Wetland

Height

0.5
to
1
ft.

Spread

1
to
3
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Moist, Mud, Sand, Wet

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

High

Native Habitat

Riparian, Wetland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Blue, Pink, White

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies

Maintenance

A flowering, aquatic to semi-aquatic plant. Very easy to grow as ground cover in shallow edges of ponds or moist soil. Can grow in water depths 0-24 inches. 0 to 24 It prefers shallowly submerged conditions where its roots anchor in wet substrate while its foliage emerges above the surface to produce flowers. Trailing stems with roots may be transplanted. Can be grown in containers. Set up a pond or a water collection tank near a downspout to supplement water. Native habitat: wet sands, mud flats, pond or stream margins.

Description

Blooms April-September. Prostrate, creeping, stems are mat-forming. The small, bell-shaped flowers, are often tinged with blue or pink. The leaves are small, oval and shiny. The fruit is a capsule. Larval host: White Peacock.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Bramia monnieri, Lysimachia monnieri

References

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason